Container positioning mechanism for filling machines



Jan. 27, 1948. R. E. J. NORDQUIST- 2,434,952

CONTAINER POSITIONING MECHANISM FOR FILLING MACHINES Original FiledSept. 7, 1940 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 I I N VEN TOR. M My 2W5) I BYDLWK W Jan.27, 1948. R. E. J. NORDQUIST 2,434,952

CONTAINER POSITIONING MECHANISM FOR FILLING MACHINES Original FiledSept. 7, 1940 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

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Jan. 27, 1948. R. E. J. NORDQUIST CONTAINER POSITIONING MECHANISM FORFILLING MACHINES Original Filed Sept. '7, 1940 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 IN VENTOR.

A T TO EA/EYS Patented Jan. 27, 1948 CONTAINER POSITIONING MECHANISM FORFILLING MACHINES Ronald E. r. Nordquist, Maplewood, N. 1., assignor toAmerican Can, Company, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New JerseyOriginal application September I, 1940, Serial No. 355,845. Divided andthis application December 21, 1944, Serial No. 569,241

The present invention relates to a machine for treating containers andhas particular reference ing a wide range of varieties, such as ordinarymilk, chocolate milk, buttermilk, cream, heavy cream, etc., have beenpackaged in fibre containers. In order to meet the demands of the tradethese products are packaged in different sizes of containers whichinclude half-pint, pint, quart and the like containers. The smallersizes of containers such as the half-pint and pint sizes, due to therelatively smaller volume of liquid to be packed, are usually smaller incross sectional dimensions than the quart size, but they are ofdifferent heights to accommodate the different volumes. Nearly alldairies handle this variety of containers.

When the filling and closing of such a variety of containers is effectedby automatic machinery it is usually necessary to have a special machinefor each size of container. Thi usually works a hardship on the smallerdairies which may lack facilities for purchasing and maintaining andhousing such a variety of machines.

The instant invention contemplates overcoming this difliculty byproviding in one machine a device which may be set to locate andcentralize at. a working station in the machine, a definite size ofcontainer selected from a range of containers of different sizes.

An object of the invention is the provision in a container treatingmachine of centralizing devices wherein containers of different heightsand cross-sectional dimensions may be selectively located at a workingstation in the machine so that the same machine may be used to treat oroperate upon a variety of sizes of containers.

Another object is the provision of such a centralizing device whereinthe device may be manually set for a predetermined size of container andthereafter operate in time with the passage of the containers in acontinuous procession through a working station of the machine, tolocate and centralize individual containers of the procession at theworking station preparatory to an operation being performed on them atthe station.

11 Claims. (Cl. 226-94) Numerous other objects and advantages of theinvention will be apparent as it is better understood from the followingdescription, which, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings,discloses a preferred embodiment there- Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side view of a portion of a machine including a containercentralizing device embodying the instant invention, with parts beingbroken away;

Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the machine parts shown in Fig. 1 with a.container in place in the centralizing device and with portions of thecontainer and the machine parts being broken Fig. 3 is an enlargedperspective view of a container shown in the centralizing device, withparts omitted; and

Fig. 4 is a combined top plan view of a container and horizontalsectional view of the centralizing device showing how the latter fitscontainers of different cross-sectional sizes.

As a preferred embodiment of the invention the drawings illustrate acontainer centralizing device and principal parts of the containersealing portion of a machine for filling milk products into squarefibrecontainers of the character disclosed in United States Patent2,085,979, issued July 6, 1937, to John M. Hothersall, on Container.Such .a container designated by the letter A in Figs. 2,

3 and 4, isformed with a filling and dispensing opening B located in thetop of the container. When the container is filled the opening B isclosed and sealed with a plug closure element C which is hingedlyconnected to the container top adjacent the opening.

The containers A advance through the machine in an upright position andin a continuous procession. Only one size of container is filled andsealed in the machine at one time, After being filled the containers areadvanced in a step-bystep or intermittent manner through a, sealingstation illustrated in the drawings. This advancement of the containersis effected by feed dogs ll (Fig. 2) which are secured at spacedintervals to a pair of horizontally disposed endless chain conveyors l2which operate over drive sprockets l3 carried on avertical drive shaftjournaled in bearings l4 mounted on a frame l5 which constitutes aportion of the main frame of the machine. The drive shaft may be rotatedin any suitable manner. The lower sprocket l3 and its associated chainconveyor 12 are vertically movable vertically on its support bar I 3 toac-,

commodate the table to the proper level for containers of diilerentheights. The lower conveyor. driving sprocket 13 moves with the table.-

At the sealing station, a container A temporarily comes to rest and itsclosure element is expanded within the filling and dispensing open-- ingB of the container to seal it against accidental opening during furtherhandling of the container. This expanding of the closure element C iseffected by a suitable closing head which is preferably of the characterdisclosed in United States Patent 2,170,821 issued August 29, 1939, toJohn M.-Hothersall et al., on Can closing machine.

Theclosing head 25 is mounted on a vertical stem 26 carried in an arm 21secured to the upper end of a vertically movable rod 28 slidably carriedin a vertical bearing or column 23 fastened to the machine main frame.The rod is actuated in any suitable manner in time with the other movingparts or the machine. Vertical movement of the rod 28 lowers the closinghead 25 into engagement with a container A at the sealing station toeflect the expanding operation hereinabove mentioned and then lifts thehead clear of the container after the expanding operation so thecontainer may be discharged from the machine.

A container to be sealed must be properly lo cated relative to theclosing head 25 when it comes to rest at the sealing .station so thatits closure element C will be in exact vertical alignment with theclosing head. For this purpose a 4 Through this connection thecentralizing member 32 is rocked by the closing head 25.

In the different sizes of containers herein considered. the closureelements C and the filling openings B are the same size and are all inthe same location relative to one corner of the container top asdiagrammatically shown in Fig. 4.

Each container therefore must be centralized in a predetermined positionrelative to its closure element and this in turn is brought into apredetermined position relative to the sealing head 25 when a containeris stopped thereunder.

For this purpose the centralizing member 32 is formed with a pair ofspaced side wings 5|, 52 (Figs. 2, 3 and 4) each provided with inwardlyextending angularly disposed complemental cross webs 53, 54 as shown inthe drawing and which are respectively radially equidistant from theaxis of pivot shaft 33. The side wing it is straight throughout, whilethe side wing 52 is formed with an oflset'sectlon or portion 55. Thissection is connected with the wing 5| by a cross web 51.

centralizing device 3| is provided for locating and 5 holding containersof a selected size in place for and during the closure expandingoperation.

The centralizing device 3| includes an H-shaped member 32 which isdisposed adjacent the path of travel of the containers on the table l8.Member 32 is rotatably mounted on a short pivot shait 33 carried in apair of substantially vertical side arms 34. The side arms in turn aremounted on a pivot pin 35 which extends through a spacer bearing 35formed in a stationary horizontal bracket 31 which overhangs the path oftravel of the containers. The bracket is secured to the upper end of thehead actuating rod bearing 23.

The centralizing member 32 is adapted to be I periodically rocked intoand out of the path of travel of the containers for the centralizingoperation. This rocking motion is brought about by a yieldable linkwhich includes a vertical rod 4| having its lower end secured ina pivotblock 42 mounted on a pivot stud 43 carried by lugs 4| formed on theside arms 34. The upper end of 'the rod extends through the outer end ofa horizontal bracket arm 45 and is held against displacement therefromby a large head screw 46 which is threaded into the end of the rod. Thebracket arm 45 extends outwardly from the closing head arm 21. Acompression spring 4'! surrounds the rod and is interposed between thebracket arm and a nut 43 threaded on the rod 1 and thus forms theyieldableportion of the link.

Hence for a half-pin size container the ,centralizing member 32 ismanually rotated on its shaft 33 to bring the cross webs '53 into avertical position as shown in Figs. 2 and 3. The centralizing memberthen may be locked in this position by a removable pin 5| which iscarried in a hole or bore 52 (Fig. 1) in one o! the side arms 34 andprojects into an aligning hole or bore 63 (Fig. 3) formed in the sidewing 52.

With the centralizingmember 32 in this set position it is moved by theclosing head 25 toward the half-pint container then at rest at thesealing station. The side wings 5|, 52 straddle and engage the sides ofthe container in this movement and hold it against any movementlongitudinally of the machine. The cross webs 53 also engage against theouter side of the con miner and force the container against a top guiderail 55 (Fig. 2). While the container is so held, the sealing or closureelement expanding operation is performed by the closing head 25 cominginto engagement with the container.

For setting the device for the pint size of container, the centralizingmember 32 is rotated on its shaft 33 to bring the pair of cross webs 53into a vertical position adjacent the path of travel of the containers.It is locked in this selected position by the pin 6i, the inner end ofwhich now engages in a hole or bore 61 (Figs. 2 and 3) formed in theoil-set portion 56 of side wing 52. Since the pint size container is thesame in cross section as the halt-pint size, the side wings 5|, 52readily straddle the container and centralize it under the head .25. Thecross webs 54, however, engage the container lower down, the pintcontainer being higher or longer than the half-pint size. Suchengagement is nearer the middle of the pint size container. For thissize container the table I8 is lowered into a position suitable to thegreater height of thecontainer. The sprocket l3 of the lower conveyor i2is also simultaneously shifted with the table for this purp se.

For the quart size of container the centralizing member 32 is rotated tobring the cross web 51 into a vertical position adjacent the path oftravel of the containers and the setting p n Si is locked in a hole 58in the side wing 52. This brings the offset section 55 of the side wing52 in position to accommodate the greater cross section of the quartsize container. The cross web 51 is also nearer the pivot shaft 33 forthis same purpose. The table l3 and the conveyor sprocket I! areretained in'their' same lowered position as for the pint size container.

Upon the completion of the sealing operation the closing head 25 movesup clear of the con tainer, as. hereinbefore mentioned. As the headmoves up, it pulls on the centralizirg member 32, through itsyieldablymounted rod 4| and side arms 34, and thus rotates or rocks themember 32 together with the attached side arms '34,

on pivot pin.35, outwardly away from the sealed ,container so that themember will be clear of the container when the dogs H of the chains I2again engage behind the container upon the.

next stepped movement thereof and advance it further along the table fordischarge from the machine.

It is thought that the invention and many of its attendant advantageswill be understood from the foregoing description, and it will beapparent that various changes may-be made in the form, construction andarrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit and scope ofthe invention or sacrificing all of its material-advantages, the formhereinbefore described being merely a preferred embodiment thereoL- Iclaim:

1. In a centralizing device forselectively locating difierent sizedcontainers at a working station, the combination of a body memberrotatable into difierent selected positions at said station, and spacedside wings on the sides of said body member, the associated wings on oneside being differently spaced from those on another side, the distancebetween associated wings corresponding to the size of container at saidstation.

2. In a centralizing device for selectively locating different sizedcontainers at a working station, the combination of a rotatable bodymember having spaced side wings, the associated wings on one side beingdifferently spaced from those on another side, means for moving saidbody member into locating position to bring one set of side wings intoposition to straddle and locate the container at said station, and meansfor holding said member in a selected position with its spaced sidewings corresponding to the size of container at said station.

3. In a centralizing device for selectively locating different sizedcontainers at a working station, the combination of a table at saidworking station for supporting a container, said table being movablevertically into positions for containers of different heights, aconveyor horizontally movable relative to said table for advancing thecontainer therealong, guide rails on said table for guiding thecontainer along said table, said guide rails being relatively adjustable for containers of difierent sizes, a centralizing member rotatableupon a fixed axis into different selected positions at said station, andspaced pairs of side wings respectively disposed on opposite sides ofsaid body member, the wings of a side pair on one side being difierentlyspaced from those of a pair on another side, the distance betweenassociated wings corresponding to the size of container at said station.

4. In a centralizing device for locating containers of difierent crosssectional sizes at a working station of a machine through which thecontainers advance in a continuous procession, the combination of acentralizing member rotatable upon a fixed axis into difierent positionsto compensate for containers of varying cross 6 sectional dimensions,said body member being movable into engagement with successive advancingcontainers for locating each container in a proper centralized position,and means for moving said body member into and out of tha path of travelof the containers to efiect the described centralizing or thecontainers.

5. In a centralizing device for locating containers of different crosssectional sizes at a working station of a machine through which thecontainers advance in a continuous procession,

the combination of a rotatable body member,'a

plurality of spaced side wingsextending laterally on different sides ofsaid member, the wings on one side of said member being spaced apartdifferently from those on an-adjacent side to accommodate containers ofcorresponding crosssectional dimensions, and a rotatable mounting forsaid body member disposed adjacent a path of travel of the containersmoving through said working station of the machine, said mounting beingarranged for the rotation of said body member into different fixedpositions to selectively bring said side wings into position adjacentthe path of travel of the containers to straddle and engage a containerof a particular cross sectional dimension to thereby locate it andtemporarily hold it in a predetermined position.

6. In a centralizing device for locating containers of different crosssectional sizes at a working station of a machine through which thecontainers advance in a continuous procession, the combination of arotatable body member, a plurality of spaced and parallel side wings onsaid body member, the wings on one side of said member being spacedapart a different distance from those on an adjacent side to locatecontainers of corresponding cross-sectional dimensions, a phirality ofcross web sections extending laterally from said side wings to locate ina different direction said containers, and a rotatable mounting for saidbody member disposed adjacent a path of travel of the. containers movingthrough said working station of the machine, said mounting beingarranged for the rotation of said body member into the desired fixedposition to selectively bring said side wings and their associated websections into position adjacent the path of travel of the containers tostraddle and engage a container of a, particular cross sectionaldimension to thereby locate it and temporarily hold it in apredetermined position.

7. In a centralizing device for locating containers of different crosssectional sizes at a working station of a. machine through which thecontainers advance in a continuous procession, the combination of arotatable body member, a plurality of spaced and parallel side wings onsaid body member and extending laterally therefrom on different sides ofsaid member, said'wings on the different sides of said member beingspaced apart differently to accommodate containers of different crosssectional dimensions, a rotatable mounting for said body member disposedadjacent a path of travel of the containers moving through said workingstation of the machine, said mounting being arranged for the rotation ofsaid body member into different fixed positions thereon to selectivelybring said side wings into position adjacent the path of travel of thecontainers to straddle and engage a container of a particular crosssectional dimension to thereby locate it and temporarily hold it in apredetermined position, and means for locking said body member in aselectedflxedposition for containers or the same cross sectionaldimensions advancing throug said station in a continuous procession.

8. In a centralizing device for locating containers of diiferent crosssectional sizes ata working station of a machine through which thecontainers advance in a continuous procession, thevcombination of arotatable body member, a plurality of spaced and parallel side wings onsaid body memberextending laterally therefrom on different sides of saidmember, said wings on the dinerent sides of said member being spacedapart ditferently -to accommodate containers oi different 1 crosssectional dimensions, a rotatable mounting for said body member disposedadjacent a path of travel of the containers moving through said workingstation of the machine, said mounting being arranged for the rotation ofsaid body member into different fixed positions thereon to selectivelybring said side wings into position adjacent the path of travel of thecontainers to straddle and engage a container of a particular crosssectional dimension to thereby locate it and temporarily hold it in apredetermined position, and a removable locking pin carried in saidmounting and insertable selectively into any one of a plurality .oflocking holes in said side wings for looking said body member in aselected fixed Position for containers of the same cross sectionaldimensions advancing through said station in a conber disposed adjacenta path of travel of the containers moving through said working stationof the machine, said mounting being arranged for i the rotation of saidbody member into diflerent fixed positions thereon to selectively bringsaid side wings into position adjacent the path of travel of thecontainers to straddle and engage a container of a particular crosssectional dimension to thereby locate it and temporarily hold it inapredetermined position, and means for shifting said body member into andout of the path of travel of the containers to effect the centralizingof individual containers passing through the station in a continuousprocession,

10. In a centralizing device for locating containers of different crosssectional sizes at a working station of a machine through which thecontainers advance in a continuous procession, the combination of arotatable body member, a pmrality oi spaced and parallel side wings onsaid body member and extending laterally thereirom on diiferent sides ofsaid member, said wings on the diflferent sides of said member beingspaced apart differently to accommodate containers of difierent crosssectional dimensions, a rotatable mounting for said body member disposedadjacent a path of travel of the containers moving through said workingstation of the machine, said mounting being arranged for the rotation ofsaid body member into diflerent fixed positions thereon to selectivelybring said side wings into? position adjacent the path of travel of thecontainers to straddle and engage a container of a particular crosssectional dimension to thereby licate it and temporarily hold it in apred'etermined position, and a pivotal mounting for said rotatablemounting for swinging said body member into and out of the path oftravel of the containers to effect the centralizing of individualcontainers passing through the station in a continuous procession.

11. In a centralizing device for locating containers oi difierent crosssectional sizes at a working station of a machine through which thecontainers advance in a continuous procession, the combination of arotatable body member, a plurality of spaced and parallel side wings onsaid body member and extending laterally therefrom on different side ofsaid member, said wings on the different sides of said member beingspaced apart differently to accommodate containers of difl'erent crosssectional dimensions, a rotatable mounting for said body member disposedadjacent a path of travel of the containers moving through said workingstation of the machine, said mounting being arranged for the rotation ofsaid body member into different fixed positions thereon to selectivelybring said side wings into position adjacent the path of travel of thecontainers to straddle and engage a container of a particular crosssectional dimension to thereby locate it and temporarily hold it in apredetermined position, a pair of swing arms for said rotatablemounting, and means operable in time with the advancement of thecontainers for pivotally shifting said swing arms to move said bodymember into and out of the path of travel of the containers to effectthe centralizing of individual containers passing through the station ina continuous procession.

RONALD E. J. NORDQUIST.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PA'I'EN TS Number Name Date 2,353,523 Stewart July 11,1944 2,086,065 Charlton July 6, 1937

